Capacitor end filling machine



Oct. 4, 1949. G. J. KENNEDY CAPACITOR END FILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. ,16, '1945 INVENTOR 6/1 5597' J ka-w/vfar ATTORN EY Oct. 4, 1949. G. J. KENNEDY CAPACITOR END FILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filecl Jan. 16, 1945 J FH INVENTOR 6/1. 5597' J A i/v/vam ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1949. G. J. KENNEDY CAPACITOR END FILLING MACHIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1945 ATTORNEY I/VVEA/TOP 6/4 5597 vZ K E/V/VEDY ,47'TOPNE')" 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 G J KENNEDY CAPACITOR END FILLING MACHINE Oct. 4,1949.

Filed Jan. 1e, 194s Patented Oct. 4, 1949 OFFICE CAPACITOR END FILLING MACHINE Gilbert J. Kennedy, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application January 16, 1945, Serial No. 573,131 9 Claims (Cl. 9143) This invention relates to a new and useful conveying and capacitor end filling machin which is particularly adapted for sealing the ends of rolled electrical capacitors.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine which will improve and increase the production of electrical capacitors.

A feature of this invention is the arrangement of a continuous moving chain which moves the capacitor to a device which centers the capacitor units in a tube and then conveys them to a position whereat a small quantity of thermoplastic material seals one end of the unit and then turns the capacitor over and places it in a position whereat another device deposits a drop of material which seals the other end of the unit, thereby protecting the capacitor unit at its end against the entry of moisture.

The capacitor units which are to be built by this machine are well known in the art and consist of wound paper and metallic foils separated from each other which when wound are placed in a shell or insulating tube with connection leads extending out at each end of the tube.

This invention will best be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine of this invention, I

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation showing a portion of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on line 55 of Fig. 4 showing a part of the mechanism for operating the wax deposit valves,

Fig. 6 is a front elevation partly in section at line 66 of Fig. 3, showing another part of the mechanism for operating the wax deposit valves, and

Fig. '7 is a detailed front elevation of the operating cam.

Referring now to the drawings, a support panel I is secured to a base 2 by means of a plurality of screws 3. The base 2 is provided with four legs 2A which are of proper length to provide elficient operation. Two triangular shaped end members 4 and 5 are secured to panel I by screws 3. At each of the four corners of panel I, there are located chain sprockets 6, I, 8 and 9. The sprockets 8 and 9 are mounted on an oscillating arm I6. A fifth chain sprocket I0 is located on the right side of panel I intermediate sprockets 6 and I. A continuous roller chain II, which is similar to that used in bicycles, is arranged to mesh with the teeth of all of the five above mentioned sprockets. A plurality of U-sh p d sprin clips [2 are secured to each one of the links of,

chain II, the clips being made up in a different number of suitable sizes to engage the capacitors which are to be processed by the machine of this invention. The sprocket Ii is rotated through a' gear reduction unit I3 by a motor I4, the gear reduction unit and the motor I4 being coupled together by means of a V belt I5, the preferred arrangement being such that the chain I I moves at a sufficient speed to process approximately 30 capacitor units per minute. An oscillating arm I6 is provided on the front of panel I and is pivoted b means of a pivot shaft I! to panel I in order that a portion of chain II will intermittently stop to permit the deposit of a smallquantity of wax on a capacitor While the remainder of the chain continues to move at a constant speed. The ends of the oscillating arm I6 are provided with studs I8 and I9 upon which rotate sprockets 8 and 9 respectively. The operation of the oscillating arm IIiis accomplished by the movement of a'chain 20 located in the rear of the panel which is connected for rotation through sprockets 20A and 203 with the gear reduction unit I3. A cam lever 2| connects to a cam wheel 22 which is shown in detail in Fig. '1. The cam has a grooved curved cam track 23, a cam shaft 22A is mounted for rotation with sprockets 20A by bracket 223. A roller 23A runs in track 23 and is provided with a pivot bearing for moving lever 2 I. The chain 20 is maintained in a tight operating condition by an idle sprocket 200 which is supported by an angular bracket 20D secured to base 2 by bolts 20E. The cam lever 2I-is connected to rocker shaft I! by a pin HA. The oscillating arm 46 is also connected to shaft H by a pin IBA. Cam shaft 22A extends beyond the face of cam 22 and also panel I. A shouldered portion on shaft 22A has secured thereto an eccentric crank arm 220. Two links 24 and 28 are actuated by crank arm 22C. The link 24 operates a rocker arm 25, which is pivoted by pivot 26 secured to panel I. Arm 25 has a slot 25A, a depending extension portion 253, and a plunger 21 located at the end opposite the junc-v by any suitable means such as an electric heater (not shown) which surrounds the outer casing of the reservoir, the arrangement being such that the sealing wax, which is to be located therein, is maintained in a molten state at approximately 250 C. and agitated by a paddle or similar device 32A and 33A. Directly below plunger 21 there is nozzle 35, and directly below plunger 3| there is a second nozzle 36. The nozzles 35 and 36 are connected to reservoirs 32 and 33 respectively by suitable connection means such as pipe 31. The position of the nozzles 35 and 36 is such that they are directly above one of the capacitor units 38 when the two portions of the chain below nozzles 35 and 36 intermittently stops its rotation.

At the upper portion of panel I there is arranged a small angular platform 50 which is secured by means .of a plurality of bolts and nuts The angular member 58 is located directly below the chain II in a position such as to prevent the paper wound capacitor unit from dropping out of the shell 38. A guide channel extension portion 52 extends beyond angle 50 to insure the capacitor unit to be maintained in this proper position within the shell 38 before passing around the sprocket 8. A second guide channel member 53 is located on the front of panel I in a position which is intermediate sprockets 8 and 9. To the right of sprocket 8 there is secured to member 53 a quadrant section 54 which follows the contour of chain II as it passes around the sprocket 8. The location being such as to prevent the wound capacitor unit from dropping out of the shell 38 at this point and to position the shell and unit properly on the chain so that the wax will be able to enter the shell.

During the operation of thismachine it frequently happens that an operator will neglect to place a capacitor within one of the clips provided for this purpose. It is therefore desirable to have the device of this invention arranged so as not to eject a quantity of wax when a capacitor is-not in one of the clips provided for this purpose. A bell crank having arms 51 and 58 is provided to prevent any ejection of wax when a capacitor is not in its respective position in clip l2. Arm 58 is located just above chain H and below the adjacent nozzle 35, as shown by Figs. 3 and 6. A movable vertical rod 56 is secured between arms 51 and 58. Arm 51 normally is arranged to lie within a slot 25A of arm 25 which is connected to a plunger 21. If by chance a clip l2 does not have a capacitor unit in position to receive a quantity of wax from nozzle 35, the plunger 21 will then not operate because spring 55 forces arm 58 in the zone normally occupied by the missing unit. In this position arm 58 rotates vertical rod 56, which in turn moves arm 5! to the right as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 6. In this latter position arm 51 will move away from the slot 25A in arm 25 and will engage the depending extension portion 25B which will hold the plunger 21 up to prevent ejection of any wax. A heavy helical spring 24A takes up the motion between members 24 and 25.

In order to further retain the capacitor units in position whilepassing around reservoirs 32 and 33 a secondary belt or conveyer member is provided as shown in detail by Figs. 3 and 4. The secondary conveyer is actuated by means of a gear 80, shown in Fig. 1, which rotates with sprocket l0 and meshes with a second gear 6|, a pinion 62, and an intermediate sprocket 64 to located therein, reaches the second nozzle 36,.

wax ejection is again prevented by another mechanism including a movable arm 1:) which is located directly below the reservoir 33. Arm I8 is secured to a movable shaft 1| pinned at 12. This shaft H has, at its upper portion, a second arm 13 which prevents the actuation of an arm 29 to operate plunger 3|. The arrangement of the mechanism is such that if a capacitor unit is omitted (as shown by the dash line in the central portion of Fig. 4) the plunger 3| will not operate to eject a quantity of wax through nozzle 36 because in this position a spring 14 will force arm 13 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and will block the normal downward movement of arm '29. When a capacitor is in a clip and it is po-' sitioned to receive the wax arms I6 and 12 both move to the rear by the displacement of shell 38 compressing spring 14. Thereby arm 29 and plunger 3| can move downward to eject the wax. A heavy spring 28A takes up the lost movement between members 28 and 29.

In order that the device of this invention will not actuate should the wax become solidified in reservoirs 32 or 33, a sliding device (shown in detail in Fig. 5) is provided on the upper portion of plungers 21 and 3|. This is accomplished by having the upper portion of plungers 21 and 3| cut away and provided with a V slot 89 in which rides a spring tensioned member 8| which is secured to a portion of a rod 82. The spring tension is provided by a spring -83.

It will be noted that in the operation of this device, arrangement is made so that after capacitor 38 dwells long enough to receive a quantity of thermoplastic material from the nozzle 35, it will then pass over the periphery in sprocket l0 and in so doing the capacitor turns completely over so that when it reaches a position near nozzle 36 the extreme end of the unit will be in a position to receive a drop of sealing compound. Located slightly to the right of sprocket 9 there is a capacitor ejecting member 39 which extends out in front of the channel. Sprocket 1 is provided with a slotted portion 48 which permits the lateral member of a bearing 4| to loosen or tighten the chain I for the best operating tension. The slack is taken up in chain II by a sprocket 11 which is mounted in front of panel I and rotates on a shaft TIA. Adjustment of chain relative to the position of cam track 23 is made by a split toothed bushing 6A which surrounds the shaft for sprocket 6.

When operating this device, with the chain l| moving, the operator places the unsealed capacitor units 38 which are in shells 39 in the clips l2 at a loading point 42. The loading point 42 will be anywhere along the top of the chain between sprockets I and 8. The capacitors which are to be loaded in the machine will generally be in two separate pieces, that is, the wound paper and metal foil capacitor units and outside shells 38. In some applications however, the shell and the capacitor unit will be secm'ecl in place before sealing. The capacitor units and shells then move along with chain l l around driving sprockets 8 and .9. In the meantime sprocket 8 by movement of arm I6 moves to the left along a portion of the chain and-thus. brings the D tions intermediate sprockets 8, 9 and ID in a position of rest when arm I6 reaches the same speed as that at which the chain is traveling: Simultaneously with this operation, sprocket 9 moves to the right and the shaft 22A rotates crank arm 22C which in turn is linked with arms 24 and 28 and by the upward movement thereof rocks the right hand portion of rocker arms 26 and 29 downward causing plungers 21 and 3| to open a valve in nozzles 35 and 36 which places a drop of wax and seals the end of the capacitors. Links 24 and 28 are provide with heavy helical springs 24A and 28A respectively which exert the pressure required to operate plungers 21 and 3|. After the wax is placed in the top ends of the capacitor units, sprocket 8 then moves to the right and sprocket 9 to the left, thus starting the last mentioned portions of the chain to move again twice as fast as the top, bottom and right hand portions of the chain H, which always moves uniformly carrying with it the capacitors 38 which then rotate around the outer right periphery of sprocket l and in so doing reverses the, position of the capacitors so that the 0pposite end is in position to receive wax from nozzle 35. The sprocket 8 then moves to the left and sprocket 9 to the right, and the operation of dropping the sealing compound is repeated by motion of plunger 21 and rocker arm 25. The intermittent stationary portion of the chain moves when sprocket 9 moves to the left and continues this movement until the capacitor shells 38 are ejected by means of the slant on member 39, the capacitor units then drop into any suitable container, not hown.

As mentioned'above, if the sealing compound is not in sufliciently molten state to flow, then the springs will compress and no action will result. At first only one end of the capacitors will be sealed, that is, until a sufficient number pass around sprocket I0. Then the other end of the units Will be sealed simultaneously with the first top ends to be sealed. The levers 51 and 13 are provided to operate in the path of the chain I I to hold back the wax valve plungers when no unit is present in the chain, thus preventing a quantity of wax or sealing compound from being ejected.

Although this invention has been described in connection with the conveying and building of capacitors, it should be understood that the invention is such as to be adapted to other electrical device and therefore should not be limited precisel thereto. 1

What I claim is:

l. A device for conveying electrical elements comprising a support member, a plurality of chain sprockets mounted for rotation on said support member, a continuous chain engaging the teeth of said sprockets, support means secured to said chain to receive the electrical elements an oscillating arm pivoted on said support member and supporting some of said sprockets, means for moving and reversing the position of said electrical elements, and means for moving said oscillating arm for intermittently stopping movement of one portion of said chain while another portion moves.

2. A machine for sealing the ends of electrical capacitors comprising a support member, a plurality of sprockets mounted for rotation on said capacitors to prevent entry of moisture comprising a support member, a plurality of sprockets mounted for rotation on said support member, a continuous chain engaging the teeth of said sprockets, support means secured to said chain to receive said electrical capacitors, means for moving said chain and means including an oscilating arm for intermittently stopping the movement of one portion of the chain while a quantity of thermoplastic material is placed on one end of one of said capacitors, and means for reversing the position of said capacitors so that a like quantity of thermoplastic material is placed on the other end of said one capacitor.

4. A machine for sealing the ends of electrical capacitors comprising a support member, an oscillating arm pivoted on said support member, three sprockets mounted for rotation on said support member and two sprockets mounted on said oscillating arm, a'continuous chain engaging the teeth of all of said sprockets, support means secured to said chain to receive said electrical capacitors, means for moving said chain and means for actuating said oscillating arm to intermittently stop the movement of one portion of the chain while a quantity of molten sealing compound is placed on one'end of one of said capacitors, and one of said three sprockets being mounted with respect to the other sprockets insuch manner as to reverse the position of said capacitors so that a like quantity of sealing compound is placed on the other end of said one capacitor.

5. A machine for sealing an'electrical capacitor unit within a tube by closing the ends thereof comprising a support member, a plurality of sprockets mounted for rotation on said support member, a continuous chain engaging the teeth of said sprockets, support means secured to said chain to receive said electrical capacitors, guide means to retain said capacitor units in a central position within said tube, means for moving said chain and means for intermittently stopping the movement of one portion of the chain while a quantity of sealing compound is placed on one end of one of said capacitors, and means for reversing the position of said capacitors so that a like quantity of sealing compound may be placed on the other end of said one capacitor.

6. Apparatus for sealing the ends of an electrical capacitor comprising a conveyer, a first sealing compound feeding device disposed above said conveyer for placing a quantity of sealing compound in an end of said electrical capacitor, means for-reversing the position of said electrical capacitor on said conveyer, and a second sealing compound feeding device disposed above said conveyer and below said first sealing compound feeding device, whereby the other end of said electrical capacitor is sealed.

'7. A device for conveying electrical elements comprising a support member, a plurality of chain sprockets mounted for rotation on said support member, a continuously moving chain for engaging the teeth oi said sprockets for rotation therewith, a plurality of spaced clips secured to said chain to receive said electrical elements an oscillating arm pivoted on said support member and supporting some of said sprockets, means for moving and reversing the position of said electrical elements, and means for moving said oscillating arm for intermittently stopping movement of one portion of said continuously moving chain while another portion moves.

8. A machine for sealing the ends of electrical devices comprising a support, a plurality of members mounted for rotation on said support, a continuous moving conveyer for engaging said members for rotation therewith, support means to secure to said continuously moving conveyer to receive said electrical devices, means for moving said continuousely moving conveyer, and means for intermittently stopping the movement of one portion of said conveyer while a quantity of moulten sealing material is placed on one end of one of said electrical devices, and means for moving and reversing the position of said electrical devices so that a like quantity of sealing mate rial is placed on the other end of said one device.

8 bers for rotation therewith, support means secured to said continuously moving conveyer to receive said electrical devices, means for moving said continuously moving conveyer, means for interinittently stopping the movement of one portion of said conveyor while a quantity of moulten sealing material is placed on one end of one of said electrical devices, means for moving and re- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,488,251 House Mar. 25, 1924 2,227,145 Lex et al Dec. 31, 1940 2,277,309 Doll Mar. 24, 1942 2,314,154 McCoy Mar. 16, 1943 2,359,838 ,Gladfelter et al. Oct. 10, 1944 McVey May 15, 1945 

